Three years later, a solitary purple ribbon still flutters in the wind in honour of Mario Wesley's final day in the house on Windsor Avenue. It was one of two tied that day in his honour.
July 28, 2017 marked the third anniversary of the murder of Mario Wesley in a house on Windsor Avenue in Timmins, Ont.
His death was the only murder in Timmins during 2014.
The purple ribbon was tied a year ago on a makeshift pipe railing near the Windsor Avenue home by his daughter Amanda Blueboy and Elder Mary Jane Sutherland.
After three years of investigation, Timmins Police Service still has not made an arrest.
TPS was asked a series of questions recently on how the investigation was progressing, and whether they would be considering any new approaches to solving the murder.
TPS said they could not comment as the case is under investigation.
Wesley's family has been supportive of the efforts by TPS during the investigation, but after three years they do have concerns.
“They tell me the same thing every time I call and ask – that it's still open, and that they’re still investigating,” said Amanda Blueboy, Mario Wesley’s daughter. “But to me, in fact, it seems they’re not doing enough to help out my family have justice.”
Shortly after Wesley’s body was discovered, TPS issued a news release and encouraged anyone who had any information to call them or Crime Stoppers.
The release identified the victim as Mario Wesley, a Timmins man who was originally from Moosonee and born in Attawapiskat, Ont.
In the news release, Timmins Police stated:
“Shortly after 7 p.m. on Monday, July 28, police were dispatched to a residence on Windsor Ave in Timmins. Upon arrival, police observed a male individual deceased in the residence.
“Preliminary investigation at the scene has led police to suspect foul play. The investigation into this incident is ongoing at this time, and police are awaiting a report from a forensic pathologist.
“A post-mortem examination of the deceased has been scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2014 in Toronto to determine the cause of death and the nature of the injuries involved.
“The deceased has been identified as Mario Wesley, 54, of Timmins. Anyone having any information about this incident is asked to call the Timmins Police Service at 705-264-1201 or Crime Stoppers at 705-268-8477 or toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS."
Wesley was a talented sculptor and also a musician. A video of him singing First Love can be found on Youtube.
Timmins police posted photographs of Wesley around the city with a plea to the public to come forth to police or Crime Stoppers.
TPS even travelled to Attawapiskat to interview people who might have information about the case.
On the first anniversary memorial for Wesley, Constable Luc Lamarche, the lead investigator, appeared at a gathering of family and friends at the Timmins Native Friendship Centre.
Inspector Lamarche told those gathered to celebrate Wesley’s life, that Timmins Police would pursue this case until the suspected killer was arrested.
Timmins Police also issued a news release marking the July 28, 2015 anniversary.
“It will mark one year since the body of Mario Wesley was located inside his residence at 51-B Windsor Avenue in the City of Timmins,” said police.
“The police news release stated the initial investigation deemed the sudden death a homicide and an extensive investigation ensued.
“Officers from the Criminal Investigations Unit and Forensic Identifications Unit of the Timmins Police Service continue to investigate the homicide of Mr. Wesley.
“Police have conducted hundreds of interviews, watched countless hours of video surveillance and continue to move forward in the investigation."
The news release said specifics will not be released, but police have used several investigative avenues over the last year.
“Police continue to seek assistance from the public.”
But with no end to the investigation in sight, the question on family members' minds is why after three years has the killer not been found and brought to justice?
“He didn't deserve to die like that,” Amanda said. “And we miss him everyday – my kids, my sisters and his nephews. We all miss him, his friends and the rest of family.”
“It would be good to get something out there again, for the public to show we still are searching who did this, that we haven’t forgotten, and that we still want justice for our family,” Amanda Blueboy said.
Blueboy said that on the night of her father’s death, there had been a fight a couple of hours earlier between Wesley and a person he knew. The fight broke out between the two men in a small plaza and may have been captured on video surveillance.
Several months after Wesley’s murder, Amanda’s partner was at a party where a man told a story about knowing who the alleged killer was.
Amanda's partner confronted the man, who then fled the party. He chased the man down the street but was unable to catch him.
Recently, within the past week, Crime Stoppers and the Iroquois Falls OPP went public again seeking assistance to help to solve an arson from 2015.
But after three years, no such Crime Stopper recreation has been made of events leading to Wesley’s murder.
Earlier in July, TimminsToday asked TPS if it was considering working with Crime Stoppers to seek the public’s help in solving the Wesley murder case.
The response was that TPS could not comment because the case was still under investigation.
